Crowdfunding Link Building: 2025 Edition

Let’s get real – most link building strategies suck.

You either waste time pitching blog owners who ghost you, or you shell out cash for shady link farms that Google will eventually penalize.  If you’re tired of that game, there’s a smarter move: crowdfunding link building.

This isn’t some new-age SEO gimmick. 

It’s a clean, scalable, and ethical strategy that gets you backlinks from high-authority domains – think .orgs, universities, and niche-specific projects – with minimal outreach and maximum trust.

And if you’re in SaaS or B2B, these backlinks do more than juice rankings – they build brand equity and help generate leads.

What is Crowdfunding Link Building?

Crowdfunding link building is the art of earning real backlinks by contributing to real causes. You support a campaign. 

They list your site. Google sees a trusted backlink. Your rankings move. But here’s the kicker: most people overlook it because it doesn’t look like SEO. That’s exactly why it works.

Here’s the big idea:

You contribute to relevant crowdfunding campaigns. In return, your website gets featured on their donor or sponsor pages. It’s legal, it’s smart, and it actually works. This study links off-page SEO on crowdfunding sites with better performance.

No fluff. No theory. Just a step-by-step roadmap to dominate SERPs while backing projects that matter.

Here’s how it plays out:

You find a relevant crowdfunding campaign – think product launches, medical research, tech innovations, local non-profits, even community SaaS tools. 

Many of these campaigns list contributors on a “thank you” or “donor” page, which often includes a backlink to your website if you contribute at a certain tier. Unlike traditional outreach where you beg for links, this method flips the script:

You support. They thank. You rank. ScienceDirect points out that optimized content and links help with SEO and the campaign itself.

Example: A B2B cybersecurity SaaS company donates $50 to a privacy-focused open-source campaign. In return, the campaign features its supporters on a reputable .org domain, complete with backlinks. It’s a quick and effortless way to gain instant authority.

Beyond the SEO benefits, this also aligns the brand with a cause that resonates with privacy-conscious users. Plus, it opens the door to future collaborations and community goodwill within the open-source ecosystem.

Why It Matters:

• These backlinks are contextual, high-authority, and natural.
  
• Most donor pages are indexed, evergreen, and often dofollow.
  
• You build real brand goodwill while gaining SEO equity.
  

Crowdfunding Link Sources vs. Traditional Outreach

In this table you can clearly see the factors that are impacted by each type of link and what it will require for you to build it.

Factor	Crowdfunding Links	Traditional Outreach
Link Quality	High (DA 50–90+)	Mixed (DA 10–70)
Outreach Required	None	Cold Email / Follow-ups
Risk of Google Penalty	Low (organic recognition)	Medium to High
Alignment With Google E-E-A-T	Strong (real support = trust)	Varies
Cost per Link	$20–$100 avg.	$150–$500 avg.

This strategy is especially powerful for SaaS, B2B, and purpose-driven brands that want SEO equity without shady link schemes or PR games.

Let’s get tactical. This next section shows exactly how crowdfunding link building works, step-by-step, no fluff, fully aligned with SaaS and B2B strategies.

How Does Crowdfunding Link Building Work?

Crowdfunding link building is not theory. It’s a replicable, scalable process. Here’s how you go from zero to dozens of contextual backlinks – without cold outreach or sketchy link brokers.

TL;DR: You back the right campaign. You earn the right link. Google sees it. Rankings follow.

Step-by-Step Breakdown:

1. Search for Relevant Campaigns
   
   • Use platforms like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, GoFundMe, or niche-specific crowdfunders.
     
   • Target projects in your industry. Example: A SaaS brand supporting open-source analytics tools.
     

Search Operator Tip:

site:kickstarter.com inurl:projects “thank you” OR “backer list”

2. Verify Backlink Opportunity
   
   • Not all campaigns offer backlinks – look for:
     
     • “Donor” or “Supporters” pages
       
     • Tier rewards that include website mentions
       
     • Campaigns hosted on authoritative domains (.org, .edu, etc.)
       
3. Evaluate the Campaign
   
   • Ask: Is the site indexed? Is the backlink dofollow? Is it niche-relevant?
     
   • Tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush will show you Domain Authority and spam score.
     
4. Contribute Strategically
   
   • $25–$100 typically secures a backlink
     
   • Contribute as a business or brand name – ensure your domain is submitted correctly
     
5. Follow Up If Needed
   
   • Some campaigns require manual submission of your link
     
   • Always confirm your link goes live and is dofollow
     

SaaS & B2B Application: Example Use Case

Let’s say you run a B2B project management SaaS. You back a productivity-focused app raising funds via Indiegogo. You’re now listed as a supporter with a link on a domain with DR 78.

With a single dofollow backlink from a niche-relevant source, the company gains both SEO value and brand exposure in one simple move. There’s no need for content production, no outreach, and no ongoing effort – just a small contribution that delivers lasting digital benefits.

Best Tools to Scale This Strategy

• Hunter.io – Find email addresses for follow-ups
  
• Ahrefs – Check backlink quality and anchor text
  
• Screaming Frog – Verify link indexation
  
• BuzzStream – Track your campaign contributions and responses
  

Bottom Line: This isn’t just another link scheme. You’re building SEO value while backing projects that actually matter.

Do Crowdfunding Links Actually Boost Rankings?

Short answer: Yes – and faster than most link strategies. But let’s break down why these links matter and how they impact keyword rankings, especially for SaaS and B2B businesses.

Google doesn’t just look at any backlink. It looks at trust, relevance, and authority. Crowdfunding links deliver all three.

Here’s What Happens Behind the Scenes:

When you earn a backlink from a high-DR crowdfunding campaign, you’re tapping into:

• Domain Authority Transfer – Most campaigns are hosted on .org, .edu, or trusted platforms like Kickstarter, which carry high domain authority (DA 60–90). These domains pass serious link equity.
  
• Topical Relevance – Backing campaigns related to your niche – SaaS tools, analytics platforms, open-source AI – sends strong semantic signals to Google.
  
• Brand Signals – Backlinks from real, active projects establish trustworthiness, contributing to Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust) criteria.
  

Real Data from SaaS Campaigns

Metric	Before Links	After 30 Days
Referring Domains	112	142 (+30)
Domain Rating (Ahrefs)	45	52 (+7)
Organic Traffic	4,300/mo	5,950/mo (+38%)
Keywords in Top 10	87	121 (+39%)
Lead Conversion Rate (SEO)	1.4%	2.1%

Source: Aggregated performance from 3 SaaS clients using crowdfunding link building as part of a diversified strategy.

Why This Works Especially Well for B2B & SaaS

• Trust is currency. When a B2B buyer sees your domain linked from an ethical, legit project, it builds brand authority.
  
• Low competition strategy. Very few competitors are using this method, making it a first-mover advantage.
  
• Scalable across verticals. Fintech? AI? Cybersecurity? There’s always a project worth backing in your space.
  

Pro Tip: Stack crowdfunding links with white hat authority links for compounding SEO growth. Use strategies like these to diversify your link profile and future-proof rankings.

What Are the Best Crowdfunding Platforms for Link Building?

You need platforms that allow public, indexable, outbound links. Most don’t. These five do – with some caveats. Here’s what matters: Domain Rating, link visibility, and niche alignment.

Let’s break them down:

Kickstarter

Massive reach, but limited SEO punch. Most links are nofollow or hidden inside closed profiles. Great for buzz, not backlinks. Use it for brand exposure – not link juice.

Indiegogo

Best all-rounder for SEO. Public backers/supporters pages often include dofollow links. Campaigns cover SaaS, tech, and AI. Ideal for digital products and early adopters.

GoFundMe

Built for charity, not SEO. Good for goodwill. Bad for backlinks. Links are rarely public or crawlable. Only use if mission-alignment matters more than rankings.

FundRazr

Underrated goldmine. Smaller platform, but consistently publishes donor pages with live links. Great for B2B, SaaS, health tech, and education brands.

Crowdfunder (UK)

Business-focused and backlink-friendly. Perfect for startups, SaaS, and B2B. Backer links often dofollow. Used heavily in EU and UK digital ecosystems.

Now here’s the simplified table comparing them side-by-side:

Platform	DR (Avg)	Backlink Friendly?	Ideal For	Notes
Kickstarter	91	Some indirect	SaaS tools, hardware, apps	Great for PR + mentions, but most links are nofollow
Indiegogo	88	Yes (supporters)	Consumer tech, apps, AI	Donor pages often indexed and link out
GoFundMe	85	Not ideal	Nonprofits, personal causes	Links typically nofollow or hidden
FundRazr	75	Yes (public page)	Healthtech, education, SaaS	Transparent supporter lists with live outbound links
Crowdfunder UK	80	Yes (biz focus)	B2B, startup launches	Business-centric and offers dofollow supporter links

Pro Tip: Skip the “big name” obsession. The value isn’t in the platform – it’s in the project. Look for campaigns with:

• A public “Supporters” or “Backers” page
  
• External links visible without login
  
• Relevance to your niche or ICP
  
• Domain authority of 60+

Why Crowdfunding Link Building Works in 2025?

Because it checks every SEO box Google cares about – and it’s nearly untapped.

While everyone else is chasing the same guest post spots, you’re earning natural, high-trust backlinks with zero outreach and full alignment with Google’s evolving standards.

In a post-Helpful Content era, backlinks aren’t just about volume. They’re about context, trust, and user-first value. That’s exactly what crowdfunding links provide.

Here’s Why This Strategy Wins Long-Term:

This strategy isn’t about buying links, it’s about supporting meaningful initiatives that align with your brand values. You’re not engaging in any shady SEO tactics like link wheels, private blog networks, or exchanging goods for backlinks.

Instead, you’re making small donations to credible, mission-driven campaigns, which then choose to acknowledge their supporters with backlinks on public donor pages. These links are editorially placed, not negotiated or manipulated, and they exist to recognize real contributions – not to game search algorithms.

In fact, they fall squarely within Google’s definition of “natural” backlinks, offering both ethical SEO value and authentic brand alignment.

It Builds E-E-A-T Automatically

Crowdfunding campaigns are usually:

• Run by experts, innovators, or recognized entities
  
• Hosted on reputable, often aged domains
  
• Designed to create public trust and transparency
  

Backlinks from these sources signal experience, expertise, authority, and trustworthiness – which now drive rankings even more than raw keyword targeting.

It Stays Relevant No Matter the Algorithm

Google keeps moving the goalposts – Penguin, Panda, Helpful Content Updates, AI Overviews. But one thing never changes: Google rewards trusted sites referenced by other trusted sources.

Crowdfunding links are timeless because they’re:

• Relevant
  
• Human-reviewed
  
• Publicly visible
  
• Ethically earned
  

It Aligns with Modern Brand Strategy

Especially in B2B and SaaS:

• Buyers research who you support and where your brand is visible
  
• Social proof matters – not just in conversions, but in SEO
  

These links create brand touchpoints that double as ranking assets.

Crowdfunding link building works in 2025 and beyond because it’s built on real relationships, real visibility, and real impact. It’s not just link building – it’s brand building that Google respects.

Conclusion

Crowdfunding link building isn’t a hack. It’s a strategic SEO lever with real staying power. 

While your competitors are stuck spinning wheels on spammy outreach or expensive guest posts, you’re out here earning high-authority backlinks by supporting real causes. It’s SEO with a soul – and results to match.

Especially for SaaS and B2B brands, this strategy checks all the boxes:

• Zero outreach fatigue
  
• Dofollow links from legit, high-DR domains
  
• Alignment with E-E-A-T and Google’s trust signals
  
• Scalable across verticals, causes, and audiences
  

You’re not buying links. You’re buying brand trust, SEO authority, and long-term ranking stability.

Here’s What to Do Next:

1. Audit your existing backlink profile – identify gaps in trust signals.
   
2. Identify 10+ relevant crowdfunding campaigns in your niche.
   
3. Deploy $250–$500 to secure 5–10 powerful, contextual links.
   
4. Monitor results with Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Search Console.
   
5. Scale monthly as part of your white-hat SEO system.
   

FAQ: Crowdfunding Link Building

What is crowdfunding link building?

It’s a strategy where you earn backlinks by supporting crowdfunding campaigns that offer “donor” or “supporter” link placements on their websites.

Are crowdfunding backlinks dofollow?

Many are. Always verify before donating – check page source or use tools like Ahrefs to confirm link type and indexing status.

How much should I donate for a backlink?

Most high-quality backlinks can be earned for $25-$100. Focus on relevancy and domain authority over donation amount.

Is this method white-hat?

Yes. You’re backing public campaigns that offer attribution. It’s fully Google-compliant and trust-driven.

Does this work for SaaS companies?

Absolutely. Especially effective in niches like productivity, analytics, AI, and open-source tech. Align your donations with your target audience.

How do I find crowdfunding opportunities?

Use advanced search operators on Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and niche platforms. Look for projects with public supporter pages.

Can I scale this strategy?

Yes. Build a list of opportunities monthly and automate tracking with tools like Airtable, Zapier, and Ahrefs.

What makes a crowdfunding link valuable?

Authority, relevance, and visibility. Look for domains with DR 60+, niche alignment, and public indexing of donor pages.